Bloomberg Xiamen International Bank Co, set up almost four decades ago with both local and foreign investors, is considering a Hong Kong initial public offering that could raise about HK$10 billion ($1.3 billion), according to people familiar with the matter. The Chinese lender is working with advisers for preparation of the share sale, which could take place as soon …

Bloomberg The UK government will bring forward a consultation on the case for a central bank digital currency “in the coming weeks,” Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt said. The Bank of England will also release a paper setting out technology considerations informing the potential build of a digital pound, Hunt said in a written statement to Parliament. Hunt announced …

  Bloomberg Indonesia is one step closer to requiring the central bank to come to the government’s aid through crisis bond-buying, while dropping earlier proposals to expand the monetary authority’s role. A parliament commission has approved a draft of the financial sector omnibus law that retained a provision calling on Bank Indonesia (BI) to undertake debt monetisation in times of …

  Bloomberg Three prime ministers, four finance ministers and one ill-fated budget dragged the pound within an inch of parity versus the US dollar in 2022. It was a wild ride for the currency, which suffered as political chaos engulfed the UK throughout the year. But everything went into overdrive in September, when the government’s gamble on a huge tax …

  Bloomberg Some of the world’s biggest investors predict that stocks will see low double-digit gains next year, which would bring relief after global equities suffered their worst loss since 2008. Amid recent optimism that inflation has peaked — and that the Federal Reserve could soon start to change its tone— 71% of respondents in a Bloomberg News survey expect …

  Bloomberg While investors are impatient for the Federal Reserve to deliver its last rate hike to pile back into equities, history shows they should be wary of doing so while inflation remains persistently high, according to Bank of America Corp. (BofA) strategists. An analysis by Michael Hartnett and his team showed that stocks outperformed after the Fed stopped increasing …

  Bloomberg Southwest Airlines Co said it would reinstate its dividend following a pause of more than two years, becoming the first major US carrier to resume the shareholder payouts after they were suspended during the pandemic as a condition of receiving government aid. Southwest’s board approved a quarterly dividend of 18 cents a share to be paid on January …

  Bloomberg China Aircraft Leasing Group Holdings Ltd (Calc) is considering selling some of its assets outside greater China that could raise about $3 billion in a transaction, according to people familiar with the matter. The Hong Kong-listed company is looking to divest around 40 aircraft and approximately 180 aircraft production slots, said the people, who asked not to be …

  Bloomberg India has proposed curbing the import of private jets and helicopters as the South Asian nation seeks to plug a widening trade deficit, according to a document from the country’s aviation ministry seen by Bloomberg. Any import of planes weighing more than 15,000 kilograms (33,100 pounds) unladen as well as turbo jets are also “non-essential” and shouldn’t be …

  Bloomberg Glassmaker Pochet du Courval SAS has been making perfume bottles for the world’s top beauty brands since before the telephone was invented, through countless consumer booms and busts. Executives at the French company say they have never been busier than they are right now. “The demand is just so strong that we can’t keep up,” said Yves Bouquier, …